第 34 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-04-30 16:21      字数:9322
  it was not the voice of an Englishman。 Appeared to be that of a
  German。 Might have been a woman's voice。 Does not understand German。
  〃Four of the above…named witnesses; being recalled; deposed that the
  door of the chamber in which was found the body of Mademoiselle L。
  was locked on the inside when the party reached it。 Every thing was
  perfectly silent … no groans or noises of any kind。 Upon forcing the
  door no person was seen。 The windows; both of the back and front
  room; were down and firmly fastened from within。 A door between the
  two rooms was closed; but not locked。 The door leading from the front
  room into the passage was locked; with the key on the inside。 A small
  room in the front of the house; on the fourth story; at the head of
  the passage was open; the door being ajar。 This room was crowded with
  old beds; boxes; and so forth。 These were carefully removed and
  searched。 There was not an inch of any portion of the house which was
  not carefully searched。 Sweeps were sent up and down the chimneys。
  The house was a four story one; with garrets (_mansardes。_) A
  trap…door on the roof was nailed down very securely … did not appear
  to have been opened for years。 The time elapsing between the hearing
  of the voices in contention and the breaking open of the room door;
  was variously stated by the witnesses。 Some made it as short as three
  minutes … some as long as five。 The door was opened with difficulty。
  〃_Alfonzo Garcio_; undertaker; deposes that he resides in the Rue
  Morgue。 Is a native of Spain。 Was one of the party who entered the
  house。 Did not proceed up stairs。 Is nervous; and was apprehensive of
  the consequences of agitation。 Heard the voices in contention。 The
  gruff voice was that of a Frenchman。 Could not distinguish what was
  said。 The shrill voice was that of an Englishman … is sure of this。
  Does not understand the English language; but judges by the
  intonation。
  〃_Alberto Montani_; confectioner; deposes that he was among the first
  to ascend the stairs。 Heard the voices in question。 The gruff voice
  was that of a Frenchman。 Distinguished several words。 The speaker
  appeared to be expostulating。 Could not make out the words of the
  shrill voice。 Spoke quick and unevenly。 Thinks it the voice of a
  Russian。 Corroborates the general testimony。 Is an Italian。 Never
  conversed with a native of Russia。
  〃Several witnesses; recalled; here testified that the chimneys of all
  the rooms on the fourth story were too narrow to admit the passage of
  a human being。 By 'sweeps' were meant cylindrical sweeping brushes;
  such as are employed by those who clean chimneys。 These brushes were
  passed up and down every flue in the house。 There is no back passage
  by which any one could have descended while the party proceeded up
  stairs。 The body of Mademoiselle L'Espanaye was so firmly wedged in
  the chimney that it could not be got down until four or five of the
  party united their strength。
  〃_Paul Dumas_; physician; deposes that he was called to view the
  bodies about day…break。 They were both then lying on the sacking of
  the bedstead in the chamber where Mademoiselle L。 was found。 The
  corpse of the young lady was much bruised and excoriated。 The fact
  that it had been thrust up the chimney would sufficiently account for
  these appearances。 The throat was greatly chafed。 There were several
  deep scratches just below the chin; together with a series of livid
  spots which were evidently the impression of fingers。 The face was
  fearfully discolored; and the eye…balls protruded。 The tongue had
  been partially bitten through。 A large bruise was discovered upon the
  pit of the stomach; produced; apparently; by the pressure of a knee。
  In the opinion of M。 Dumas; Mademoiselle L'Espanaye had been
  throttled to death by some person or persons unknown。 The corpse of
  the mother was horribly mutilated。 All the bones of the right leg and
  arm were more or less shattered。 The left _tibia_ much splintered; as
  well as all the ribs of the left side。 Whole body dreadfully bruised
  and discolored。 It was not possible to say how the injuries had been
  inflicted。 A heavy club of wood; or a broad bar of iron … a chair …
  any large; heavy; and obtuse weapon would have produced such results;
  if wielded by the hands of a very powerful man。 No woman could have
  inflicted the blows with any weapon。 The head of the deceased; when
  seen by witness; was entirely separated from the body; and was also
  greatly shattered。 The throat had evidently been cut with some very
  sharp instrument … probably with a razor。
  〃_Alexandre Etienne_; surgeon; was called with M。 Dumas to view the
  bodies。 Corroborated the testimony; and the opinions of M。 Dumas。
  〃Nothing farther of importance was elicited; although several other
  persons were examined。 A murder so mysterious; and so perplexing in
  all its particulars; was never before committed in Paris … if indeed
  a murder has been committed at all。 The police are entirely at fault
  … an unusual occurrence in affairs of this nature。 There is not;
  however; the shadow of a clew apparent。〃
  The evening edition of the paper stated that the greatest excitement
  still continued in the Quartier St。 Roch … that the premises in
  question had been carefully re…searched; and fresh examinations of
  witnesses instituted; but all to no purpose。 A postscript; however;
  mentioned that Adolphe Le Bon had been arrested and imprisoned …
  although nothing appeared to criminate him; beyond the facts already
  detailed。
  Dupin seemed singularly interested in the progress of this affair
  at least so I judged from his manner; for he made no comments。 It was
  only after the announcement that Le Bon had been imprisoned; that he
  asked me my opinion respecting the murders。
  I could merely agree with all Paris in considering them an insoluble
  mystery。 I saw no means by which it would be possible to trace the
  murderer。
  〃We must not judge of the means;〃 said Dupin; 〃by this shell of an
  examination。 The Parisian police; so much extolled for _acumen_; are
  cunning; but no more。 There is no method in their proceedings; beyond
  the method of the moment。 They make a vast parade of measures; but;
  not unfrequently; these are so ill adapted to the objects proposed;
  as to put us in mind of Monsieur Jourdain's calling for his
  _robe…de…chambre … pour mieux entendre la musique。_ The results
  attained by them are not unfrequently surprising; but; for the most
  part; are brought about by simple diligence and activity。 When these
  qualities are unavailing; their schemes fail。 Vidocq; for example;
  was a good guesser and a persevering man。 But; without educated
  thought; he erred continually by the very intensity of his
  investigations。 He impaired his vision by holding the object too
  close。 He might see; perhaps; one or two points with unusual
  clearness; but in so doing he; necessarily; lost sight of the matter
  as a whole。 Thus there is such a thing as being too profound。 Truth
  is not always in a well。 In fact; as regards the more important
  knowledge; I do believe that she is invariably superficial。 The depth
  lies in the valleys where we seek her; and not upon the mountain…tops
  where she is found。 The modes and sources of this kind of error are
  well typified in the contemplation of the heavenly bodies。 To look at
  a star by glances … to view it in a side…long way; by turning toward
  it the exterior portions of the _retina_ (more susceptible of feeble
  impressions of light than the interior); is to behold the star
  distinctly … is to have the best appreciation of its lustre … a
  lustre which grows dim just in proportion as we turn our vision
  _fully_ upon it。 A greater number of rays actually fall upon the eye
  in the latter case; but; in the former; there is the more refined
  capacity for comprehension。 By undue profundity we perplex and
  enfeeble thought; and it is possible to make even Venus herself
  vanish from the firmanent by a scrutiny too sustained; too
  concentrated; or too direct。
  〃As for these murders; let us enter into some examinations for
  ourselves; before we make up an opinion respecting them。 An inquiry
  will afford us amusement;〃 'I thought this an odd term; so applied;
  but said nothing' 〃and; besides; Le Bon once rendered me a service
  for which I am not ungrateful。 We will go and see the premises with
  our own eyes。 I know G; the Prefect of Police; and shall have no
  difficulty in obtaining the necessary permission。〃
  The permission was obtained; and we proceeded at once to the Rue
  Morgue。 This is one of those miserable thoroughfares which intervene
  between the Rue Richelieu and the Rue St。 Roch。 It was late in the
  afternoon when we reached it; as this quarter is at a great distance
  from that in which we resided。 The house was readily found; for there
  were still many persons gazing up at the closed shutters; with an
  objectless curiosity; from the opposite side of the way。 It was an
  ordinary Parisian house; with a gateway; on one side of which was a
  glazed watch…box; with a sliding panel in the window; indicating a
  _loge de concierge。_ Before going in we walked u